Fluid motor



MY 3, 1934- c. CHRISTIAN Erm. 1,965,488

FLUID MOTOR EY @@Ww@ ATTORNEY July 3v 1934- c. CHRISTIAN ET A1. 1,965,488

FLUID MOTOR Filed Dec. 18, 1931 5 Shets-Sheet 2 TORS ATTORNEY July 3v 1934- c. CHRISTIAN `la-r AL 1,965,488

Y FLUID MOTOR Filed Dec. 18, 1931 5 sheets-511951 5 ATTO R N EY c. CHRISTIAN ET A1.` 1,965,488

July 3, 1934.

FLUID MOTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 19,31

N a KS ATTOR N EY July 3 1934- c. CHRISTIAN ET AL 1,965,488

FLUID MOTOR Filed Deo. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOR N EY Patented July 3, 1934 MOTOR,v

Claude Christian and'liorin M. Christian, Atlanta, Ga.

Application December 1-8, 1931*, Serial No. 581,97??- 2 Claims; (Cl'. 121.--61)A Thel invention relates topower devices, par-- ticularlymotorsu of the fluid pressure operated type, and has for its general; object. the provisionoi' a novel motorwhi'ch is fluid pressure operated- 5x and: of the rotary type and which i'sconstructedonthe principle oi'thereaction ot pistonsagainst an eccentrically mounted track so that a tre-- mendous leverage will be exerted` for developing the maximum power withv the minimum expendi .10* ture ofi energy which may bei-applied either man-- ually or by way off anextraneously gener-ated pressure.

important object of' the invention. is to y provideI a moto-r adapted either for stationary*Y 1:5- use or for employment for driving vehicles ot" any sortv whatsoever and which, being pressureoperated, entirelyl eliminates. any necessity for the use of gasoline or in fact any other explosive fuelsor substances andy which will consequently 201be safe, particularlyfifV used for dri-'ving or pro-Y pelling an airplane where the re hazard is acl-- mittedly very great.

Another object of the inventionis: tol provide a motor of this character which may be manually initially operated to-providea charge ot'fluid pressure capable of acting for a-prolonged. periodi of time upon'the rotor sov that the motor may runA or operate continuously as. the result of a succession of fluid pressure charges applied to. it.

-^vat more or less frequent intervals, the 'arrange-- ment being such that but little manuali eiTor-t isr involved toI effect the charging.

A further object is to/provid'e a motor of this type-which is entirely free fromv any: gears, cams: or other equivalent devices, and? which' willtheree fore 'oe entirely silent in operatie-n'.

Yet another object is to: provide ay motor in.-4 volving a splash systeml ofv lubrication so thatno.

oil pumpmechanism will benecessary/i'or effect- 40'1 ing proper oiling of the moving partis` Another object is-toprovid'e' a-motor which if constructed originally to'V he operated by a manhually developed charge or fluid'r pressurel may loe easily altered' or modifie-:lf so: as to permitthe use of steam pressurey or the like, the principle of' the operation remaining` absolutely unchanged regardlessr ofv which means-is: resortedi to*- for fur-1 nishing thev driving power;

A- more specific object is*` toprovide a motor which i's 'uid' pressure' operated, the' fluidi pressureA being controlled' byy hydraulic pressure in turn applied andi controlled'- loy manuali or pedalT means which may loev actuated! intermittently or at. intervalsL as the occasion arises to'v maintain they motorl in; operation.

An additional object is to provide a motor possessing the-above pointed out important char-4 acteristicsand' whichwillat the same tiinebe comparatively simple and. inexpensive tomanu-- facture and install', easy tooperate, positivel i'n- 60; action, eflicient anddurable-in service, and a general' improvement in the art.

Withthe above and: other objects and advantages' in view, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction andi the arrangement 65' and combination of parts to be hereinafter morev fully described and claimed. and illustrated in the accompanyingY drawings, in which:

Fig-ure- 1- is. a topplan View of' the preferredform oftheinvention, the casing off the fly-wheel' 70; or rotor being showninsection- Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectionall view takenon the'line- 2 2 of Figure 1-.

Figure 3 is averticalv longitudinal section takenv on the line 3-3 of- Figure-11. 75

Figure t is asomewhat diagrammaticplanview showing the various cylinders flattened outV or arrangedli'n the same horizontal plan in orderl tofacilitateA thedescription of the action.

Figure 5v is a detailed cross sectional View taken- Soi on the line 5 5 of- Figure-3.

Figure 6' is afragmentary longitudinal sectionv showing the device modified touse steam pressure as the driving mea-ns.

Figure 'I'isacross sectional viewA taken on4 the 85 line '7-'7-of- Figure 6.

Referring more particularly tothedrawings, wehave shownthe motor as comprising a relativelystationaryf hollow base indicatedas aA wholebythe numeral- 10- andcomprising rectan- 90 gul'a-r-endportions ll and a semi-cylindrical'- central portion 12. The lower edge of this base is preferably formed with an outstanding ilange 13-l extending throughout its periphery. This lease` portion is alsoformedwith bearings 14 and'. 1-'5A 95 located at opposite sides of the intermediatel orcentral semi-cylindrical portion lf2', these bearings having bea-ring caps 16- and 17 respectively' engaged'` by the end walloff a hood o-rshell 18 which has its opposite edges'formed with attach`- 100 ing flanges 1'9 bolted'- or otherwisesuitably secured uponthe top of the base I0'- throughout the lengths thereofand outwardly of thesemicylindrical central port-ion 12. Bolted or otherwise suitably securedf Within the semi-cylindrical portion- 12f ot'the base isra circular track 20.A which isl eccentric with respect to the axis of the bearings` and theel'ements tot be: described mountedt therein.

Locatedf within the confines of the track 20Ll is 110 the rotor or iiy-wheel 21 which is secured to the flanged end 22 of a shaft 23 journalled between the bearing 15 and its cap 17, this shaft projecting beyond the hood 18 and base 10 and having its extremity suitably formed for connection with whatever mechanism is to be driven. Rigidly secured between the bearing 14 and its cap 16 is a tubular conduit 24 having a closed inner end 25 rotatably received within a socket or recess 26 in the y-wheel or rotor 21, the inner end of this conduit being formed, within the confines of the fly-wheel with a port 27 for a purpose to be described. That space of the fly-wheel into which the conduit 24 extends is formed with a lateral extension or hub 28 which is counterbored for the reception of packing 29 engaged by a gland or packing nut 30 so as to prevent any leakage about the stationary conduit. When this conduit 24 is referred to as stationary and rigidly clamped, such is not strictly accurate, as it is capable of having limited rocking movement. In other words what was meant to be explained is that this conduit 24 does not rotate with the fly-wheel though it can be tilted or rocked back and forth owing to the provision of a lateral extension or segment 31 formed .vith an arcuate slot 32 through which passes a cap screw 33, the purpose of this adjustment being to permit a change in the positionof the port 27 with respect to the fly-wheel for a purpose to be described.

The iiy-wheel 21 is formed with two sets of diametrically opposite cylinders 34 and 35, there being two of the latter located at opposite sides of each of the former, the latter being moreover of less diameter than the former. At their inner ends the cylinders 34 communicate with relatively small ports 36 which extend to the periphery of the conduit 24 and which are consequently adapted to communicate with the interior thereof through the port 27 as the fly-wheel rotates about the conduit. Mounted for reciprocation within the cylinders 34 are pistons 37 carried by piston rods 38 slidable through spider-like guides 39, screwed into the outer ends of the cylinders, and carrying channel members 40 within which are journalled, as by spindles 41, rollers 42 which bear always against the inner periphery of the track 20. Slidable within the cylinders 35 are pistons 43 urged outwardly by coiled springs 44, within the cylinders 35, and carried by piston rods 45 slidable through spider-like members 46, closing the outer ends of the cylinders 35, and likewise connected with the channel members 40. Obviously the pistons 43 must move in unison with the pistons 37 in a manner to be explained. Attention is again directed to the fact that the ily-wheel is eccentric with respect to the track 2O as Very clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The purpose of the springs 44 is of course to urge the channel members 40 and consequently the rollers 42 outwardly so that the latter will always remain in contact with the circular track 20.

To eiect lubrication of the parts thus described, it should be explained that the central semicylindrical portion 12 of the base is intended to serve as a reservoir for oil which should be lled up to approximately the level indicated at 47 in Figure 2. The oil may be introduced at any desired point and in order that the level may be made proper it is preferable to provide a drain plug 48. If desired this same drain plug may be removed whenever it is necessary to replenish the oil supply and if an excess amount is placed within the base it is clear that such excess will run out. As the fly-wheel and the roller devices carried thereby rotate, it is obvious that the oil will be splashed about within the interior of the device though it is quite clear that it cannot escape beyond the confines of the hood 18. Incidentally it should be mentioned that this hood 18 is intended to communicate with the atmosphere through a suitable pipe or the like indicated at 49. However, this pipe is of such small size that there is no danger of any of the oil splashing about or escaping through it.

To insure proper lubrication of the working parts, the bearing 15 is represented as formed with an inclined channel 50 leading from the interior of the semi-cylindrical central portion l2 of the base to a shield 51 extending over and about a collar 52 on the shaft 23, this passage 50 acting to conduct oil to the wearing surfaces at this location. Moreover the bearing cap 17 is formed with a plurality of holes 53 so that oil falling upon it may pass through these holes and lubricate the shaft 23. As the conduit 24 does not rotate actively but is intended simply to have limited rocking movement between the bearing 14 and its cap 16 it is not necessary to provide any deiinite lubricating means at this point as suicient oil will leak into the joint between the conduit 24 and its bearing structure to effect proper lubrication. The spider-like members 39 closing the outer ends of the cylinders 34 are formed with openings 54, and the spider-like members 46 closing the outer ends of the cylinders 35 are formed with similar holes so that oil splashing about within the interior of the device may enter the cylinders 34 and 35 and lubricate the interior thereof so that the various pistons may move easily and without unnecessary friction. Before passing to the description of the remainder of the mechanism, it should be explained that the fly-wheel is formed at each cylinder 34 with ports 55 establishing communication between the interior of the cylinders and the interior of the hood 18 and consequently the atmosphere.

Suitably mounted with respect to the base 10 and extending longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of the center are cylinders 56 within each of which is slidably mounted a piston 57 carried by a piston rod 58 equipped with a pedal 59, there being two of such pedals, one associated with each cylinder 56, and said pedals being adapted to be pressed in alternation under some circumstances or together under certain other circumstances as will be explained. Located outwardly of the cylinders 56 and suitably mounted upon the base l0 are other cylinders 60 connected with the adjacent cylinders 56 at one end as by pipes 61 and each containing a slidably mounted piston 62 carried by a piston rod 63 projecting beyond the other end and carrying a cross-head or transverse bar 64. The cylinders 56 and 60 are adapted to contain liquid such as oil which is adapted to be transferred from the cylinders 56 to the cylinders and back again in the operation of the device in a manner to be described. At each side of the machine we also provide another pair of cylinders 65 within each of which is a piston 66 carried by a piston rod 67, these piston rods being represented as located at opposite sides of the piston rod 63 and likewise secured to the cross-head or transverse bar 64. The cylinders 65 are intended to contairr air only as they have no connection with the oil containing cylinders 56 and 60.

suitably secured upon the outer end of the conduit 24 is a casing 68 provided with a transverse partition 69 dening a compartment 70, and likewise provided with a longitudinal partition 71 `deinning a pair -of compartments v72 from which eX- tend pipe sections 73 connected by nexible hose members 74 with pipes 75 from which extend Alateral branches 76 leading into the ends of the cylinders "65. are provided with inwardly-opening spr-ing pressed check valves 77 permitting inlet of air in a ymanner to be explained. The partition '69 in the valve casing 68 is provided. at each of the compartments 72 with an inwardly opening spring pressed check valve 78 which opens to permit passage -of air through the conduit 24 to the fly-wheel but which will close in the event of any back pressure against them.

The operation of the device up to this ypoi-nt `or Aas above described is as follows: initially the cylinders 56 'and 60 must be charged, or in Vother words part-ly iilled, with the proper quantity of foil indicated at 79 and it is obvious that any desired lling opening, with a suitable closure there'- fror, may be provided at any desired location. Initially, one piston rod 58 with its pedal 59 is supposed to be in its outermost position while the other is in its innermost position as clearly indicated in Figure 4. To start the motor, the 'operator places his foot upon the pedal 59 which 'extends out the farthest and presses upon it so that the piston rod 58 connected therewith will move the piston 57. As this is done the oil in advance of the piston 57 is forced through the pipe `6l into the cylinder 68 and will act against the piston 62 and force the same outwardly. In view of the fact 'that the piston rod 63 carrying the pist-on 62 is connected with the transverse bar or cross-head 64 and this same bar or cross-head is connected by the piston rods 67 with the pistons 66, the pistons 66 will be similarly moved outwardly so that the springs 80 vengaging against them will be compressed. When the operator then releases the pressure upon the pedal 59 which he has thus depressed, the springs 8O will lact to force the pistons A66 forwardly so that the air in advance of them, which air was previously 'drawn in through the check valve 77, will be forced 'out through the branch pipes 76, into the pipe 75 and through the hose 74 into the compartment 72 in the valve 'casing 68. The air entering the compartment 72 forces the check valve 78 therein to open and then passes into the conduit 24 and through the port 27 and thence through one of the ports 36 into one cylinder 34. The air thus entering the cylinder 34' forces the piston 37 therein outwardly. As the piston rod 38 connected with the piston 37 is also connected with the channel member 40 and as this member 40 is connected by the piston rods with the pistons 43 in the cylinders 35, the pistons 43 move correspondingly with the piston 37. As the roller 42 carried by the channel member 40 is thus forced outwardly it reacts against the eccentrically arranged track 20 and this causes the nywheel 21 to be rotated. When the piston 37 reaches the outer limit of its movement the compressed air acting against it escapes through the ports into the interior of the hood 18 and then through the pipe 49 to the atmosphere so that there will be no back pressure. After one .cylinder 34 has passed by the port 27 the next 78- cylinder 84 comes into communication therewith through the port 36 and the action is repeated for the second set of pistons. The rotation of the ily-wheel of course causes rotation of the shaft 23 and power may be taken therefrom for any desired purpose whatsoever.

At their -outer ends, the pipes l When the pistons F66 lare Yurged forwardly by the springs 180 vas above described it fclear that. the piston 62 moves vwith them 'and the result `is that the voil l7-9 ifs forced out fof the cylinder 560 back into the cylinderf5'6 "so that the pedal -59 wil-l Ibe returned to its outwardlyprojected position. When the iirst pressed pedal starts to return to its outwardly extended posi-tion it is lintended that the operator press upon the other pedal 59 so as rto bri-ng into play the compressing action A'of the fcompressors 'at 'the opposite side `of the machine. The mechanism 'being duplicated at both sides of the machine it is quite apparent that it is a simple matter to loperate the two sets Yof compressors in alternation so 'that the proper de'gree 'or' froid pressure lmay be supplied to the motor almost co'nthiuously so that there will be no lin'- terinption whatever to its operation.

The speed and power of the motor may Abe increased lby the voperator pressing 'upon the pedals 59 in yalternation rather frequently whereas if ra lower speed for less power is desired this may be done vat more infrequent intervals or at longer intervals. Moreover, if it is desired to stop the motor it is merelyrnecess'ary for the voperator to place his feet upon both of the pedals 59 and hold them there whereupon the motor will v'come to rest. A feature "of importance is the rockable mounting of the 'conduit 24, it being noted that by virtue of the provision of the arcuate slot 32 in the segment 81 the conduit may be adjusted so as to vary the position V'of the port 27 and thereby effect a Variation in the timing of the motor. Moreover, by turning the 'conduit 24 as far as possible the direction lof rotation ofthe motor may be reversed. 'Owing to the high leverage developed on account `of the eccentricity of the fly-wheel with respect to the circular track it is apparent that a high degree of power will be generated. Furthermore, the `eifort involved in pressing the pedals 59 is not excessive and in fact may not be very much more than is required for pushing vout the clutch and applying the brakes, for instance, on an automobile.

It is readily conceivable that the construction may be easily modified to permit themotor to be operated by steam instead 'of air placed under pressure by the pedal means previously described. In order to adapt the motor i'or the use of steam, it is merely necessary to omit the compressor mechanism above described and to replace the conduit 24 by a conduit 8l mounted in the same manner and likewise tting rotatably within the ily-wheel 21, the construction. of which need not be altered in any respect whatsoever. However, the conduit 8l is formed in two sections or provided with a longitudinally extending partition 82 defining an inlet passage 83 and an exhaust passage 84, the former being connected with a suitable source of steam and the latter leading to a lateral outlet or discharge or exhaust pipe 85. When it was stated immediately above that there was no change in the fly-wheel, it should be explained that there is one slight diierence, namely that the ports 55 described in connection with the first form of the invention are omitted in this modification. The conduit 81 is provided within the confines of the ily-wheel which is given the reference character 21a in this instance with a pair of ports 86 replacing the single port 27 in the first described Variation, one of these ports constituting an inlet and the other an outlet. nstead of the exhaust steam coming out through the hood 18 as described in connection with the compressed air it passes out through the passage gso lit

ist

lill() jso 84 as it would not be advisable or satisfactory to have the exhaust steam discharging into the hood asy it would condense and produce an objectionable condition. This form of the invention operates in exactly the same manner as the first form except that the fluid pressure is in the form of steam instead of compressed air placed under compression by the pedal means.

In all forms of the invention, it will be observed that regardless of whether compressed air or steam be introduced within the rotor, that is to say within the pistons in the rotating fly wheel, the actual result will be the same insofar as the development of power is concerned. Attention is directed to the fact that as there are no gears, cams, or the like and no elaborate valve mechanism there is practically nothing to get out of order. Moreover there is no explosive fuel or the like used and it is consequently apparent that the operation of the motor will be entirely safe and unaccompanied by the dangers inherent to the use of gasoline or the like. As the various detailed operation has been described from time to time above it is thought that a reiteration thereof is unnecessary and that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art Without further explanation.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that we reserve the right to make all such changes in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. An engine of the character described comprising a housing having bearings in its opposite ends, a circular track fixed within the housing in eccentric relation to said bearings, a shaft journaled through one bearing, a rotor secured at the center of one side to the inner end of said shaft and having a central bearing socket in its opposite side, a fluid pressure inlet conduit rotatably mounted within the other bearing and having a closed end rotatably engaged within said bearing socket, radial cylinders formed within the ily-wheel and having inlet ports at their inner ends, said conduit having a port adjacent its closed end adapted to register with the ports at the inner ends of the cylinders, pistons slidably mounted within said cylinders and having piston rods projecting outwardly, other cylinders formed within the fly-Wheel at the sides of the radial cylinders and parallel therewith supporting members mounted on the outer ends of said piston rods, rollers journaled in said supporting members and bearing against the inner periphery of said track, and outwardly spring pressed pistons mounted within the side cylinders and having piston rods connected with said supporting members for maintaining the rollers in constant engagement with the track.

2. An engine of the character described comprising a housing having bearings in its opposite ends, a circular track xed Within the housing in eccentric relation to said bearings, a shaft journaled through one bearing, a rotor secured at the center of one side to the inner end of said shaft and having a central bearing socket in its opposite side, a fluid pressure inlet conduit rotatably mounted within the other bearing and having a closed end rotatably engaged within said bearing socket, sets of radial cylinders formed within the rotor and having inlet ports at their inner ends, said conduit having a port adjacent its closed end adapted to register with the ports at the inner ends of the cylinders, pistons slidably mounted within said cylinders and having piston rods projecting outwardly, channeled members mounted on the outer ends of said piston rods, rollers journaled in said channeled members and bearing against the inner periphery of said track, cylinders formed within the fly-wheel at the sides of the radial cylinders and parallel therewith, outwardly spring pressed pistons mounted within the parallel cylinders and having piston rods connected with said channeled members for maintaining the rollers in constant engagement with the track, an arm on said conduit having a segmental slot therein, and a securing member passing through said slot and into the housing whereby the conduit may be rotatably adjusted and secured in adjusted position for varying the time of registration of the second and third named 1'.;

ports.

CLAUDE CHRISTIAN. LORIN M. CHRISTIAN. 

